Does this tent require seam sealing?

• Yes, but only for the floor seams, which can be done without setting up the tent. A seam sealing kit is included with this tent, and please read our buyer’s guide section on seam-sealing for more information and guides.

Why is this tent not as ultralight as other Tarptents? 

• The ArcDome is designed as 4-season tent and consequently uses stronger, more durable, and therefore heavier materials. While it is still lighter than many 3-season tents, we would recommend one of our other, much lighter 3 and 3+ season tents for users who don’t primarily plan on winter/alpine/severe weather use.

Why is this tent white?

• The ArcDome uses a unique super high tenacity polyester fabric that cannot be dyed. This fabric is the only type of polyester that comes close to the strength of nylon 66 fabrics, and it provides much better strength compared to polyester fabrics that use weaker but dyeable polyester yarns.
• In addition the fabric is 30D which is the lightest weight super tenacity yarns are available in, making it far stronger than even the best 20D and 15D polyesters as the fibers are both thicker and made from a stronger material. 30D nylon 66 has long been the gold standard for 4-season tents and this is the only polyester we have tested that can rival its strength and durability. The fabrics coating is silicone + polycarbonate urethane coating (‘PC’ or ‘PcU’), which is more durable than polyether urethane (‘PE’ or ‘PeU’).

Why is the floor shaped like that?

• The ArcDome 1 person floor shape is the result of extensive testing of nearly every floor shape possible. The end result is an interior that is wider, longer, and has more usable vestibule space than other tents of a similar size. In particular, we found that the vestibule was most practical when it was deepest near the center of the tent instead along an end wall. This makes it much more useable as there is the most overhead space at the center of the tent, and it is in a more convenient location when preparing food/gear while sitting in the tent.

Do I need to seam-seal the ArcDome?

• The fly is fully sealed from the factory, but the sil-nylon floor does need seam-sealing to be fully waterproof. We include a mini seam-sealing kit with every tent to do this with and interiors can be sealed easily on a table indoors.
• We can also do the sealing for you for $15. Please add our ‘seam-sealing service, interior or fly only‘ to your cart to have us do this. The $15 also covers the sealing of any additional interiors. Our seam sealing service adds 2-5 days before we can ship.

Do I need trekking poles?

• No, this tent does not require trekking poles.

Can this tent be freestanding?

• Yes, this is a freestanding tent.

Is this tent stuffable?

• Yes, the pole set is easily packed separately, and the fly and interior are fully stuffable.

Does this tent accommodate tall people?

• We recommend this tent for people up to 6 ft 6 in / 1.98m

Are there additional tie out points for extra staking?

• Yes, there are additional pullouts on the arch sleeves and perimeter hem.

Which interior type should I get?

• The full solid interior is recommended for colder conditions. Solid interiors block wind and trap warm air, but obscure the view from inside the tent. 
• The mesh interior is recommended for warm and/or humid conditions. Mesh interiors allow for maximum ventilation, which helps minimize condensation. The mesh is also transparent and allows you to see out of the tent. 
• The partially solid interior allows for venting while blocking some wind. We recommend a partial solid interior for users who primarily need good venting but want protection from cold winds while lying down. 

Which pole type should I choose?

• Our carbon fiber poles are exceptionally light but are the most flexible of our pole options due to their smaller diameter. They are great for moderate conditions where weight is a priority over wind performance. Due to their brittleness, carbon fiber poles have lower durability than aluminum. 
• DAC 9.3 NFL poles are heavier but also much stiffer and a bit stronger than our carbon fiber poles due to their larger diameter. We recommend DAC 9.3 poles for most users as they are a good balance of weight, stiffness, and durability. Aluminum poles have much better durability than carbon fiber poles due to their bend-before-break characteristic. 
• DAC 10.65 PL poles are the heaviest, but also the stiffest and strongest poles we offer. They are recommended for users who expect extreme wind or snow loading.

Do I need a groundsheet?

• Probably not. 30D sil-nylon is very durable compared to most ultralight floor materials, and in most conditions, a groundsheet is just additional weight. A groundsheet is recommended for use on highly abrasive and/or sharp ground, such as on sandstone or when pitching on sharp rocks/sticks. 

How do I avoid condensation?

• ALL tents suffer from condensation in the right/wrong conditions but there are steps you can take to limit it. Try to avoid camping overnight in cool, damp environments such as river valleys, meadows, marshes and next to water. If possible, choose an elevated campsite with a bit of a breeze and preferably under a tree canopy.  Please refer to the Choosing a Better Campsite video to better understand how to avoid condensation.